The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode hosted by Krissy Dilger of SRNA, we meet Dr. Monica Diaz of University of North Carolina Health. Dr. Diaz shared her journey into neurology and neuroimmunology, driven by her fascination with the brain and problem-solving [00:01:34]. She discussed her research focuses, including demyelinating disorders in Latin America and outcomes in Latino communities in the U.S. [00:03:26]. Dr. Diaz detailed the multidisciplinary approach of The Bodford Family Transverse Myelitis Center, highlighting the range of specialists involved in patient care [00:07:17]. She emphasized the importance of staying active and working with a care team for recovery and shared her hopes for future treatments and potential cures for rare neuroimmune disorders [00:11:08].

Monica Maria Diaz, MD, MS is an assistant professor of neurology in the Division of MS/Neuroimmunology at UNC. She sees patients in the multiple sclerosis (MS) and transverse myelitis (TM) clinics of UNC, providing care to patients with multiple sclerosis and autoimmune and infectious diseases affecting the nervous system. She completed her neurology residency at Yale and neuro-infectious/MS/neuroimmunology fellowship at UC San Diego.

Dr. Diaz has lived and worked in Peru intermittently since 2019 through an NIH Fogarty fellowship and continues to lead studies in Peru with the goal of improving neurological outcomes in Latin America, including studies on epidemiology/risk factors for dementia, cognitive impairment in Peruvians living with HIV, and transverse myelitis in Peru. She is the co-director of a bilateral neurology resident rotation between UNC and Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru. You can view the medical profile of Dr. Diaz here:

https://www.unchealth.org/care-services/doctors/d/monica-maria-diaz-md-ms

The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode hosted by Krissy Dilger of SRNA, we meet Dr. Michael Levy, a clinician from Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Levy is the Research Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Disease at Mass General and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School. He shared his journey into the field of neuroimmunology, discussed his research on the causes of MS, NMOSD, and MOGAD, and provided insights into the multidisciplinary clinic team at Mass General [01:27]. The episode also touched on the importance of understanding and reeducating the immune system to improve patient outcomes [15:22].

00:00 Introduction

00:54 Meet Dr. Michael Levy

01:27 Dr. Levy's Journey into Neuroimmunology

04:50 Research Focus and Discoveries

08:54 Clinic Operations at Mass General

12:12 Self-Care and Professional Fulfillment

15:22 Future of Neuroimmunology

16:52 Closing Remarks

Michael Levy, MD, PhD is a recognized neurologist with over 15 years of clinical and research expertise in rare neuroimmunological disorders. He established the Neuroimmunology Clinic and Research Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital and is the Research Director in the Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Disease. Previously, Dr. Levy was on the faculty at Johns Hopkins University and was the founding Director of their Neuromyelitis Optica Clinic.

Clinically, Dr. Levy cares for patients with MOG antibody disease (MOGAD), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and idiopathic transverse myelitis (TM). Dr. Levy is also the principal investigator (PI) on numerous patient studies and drug trials for new and improved treatments for these disorders. In 2022, Dr. Levy became the lead principal investigator for the two worldwide clinical trials in MOG antibody disease.

In the lab, Dr. Levy’s research focuses on the development of animal models of NMO and MOG with the goal of tolerization as a sustainable long-term treatment. Dr. Levy has more than 200 peer-reviewed research articles, reviews and editorials, and 3 patents covering NMO tolerization therapy, TM diagnostics, and stem cell regeneration approaches.

You can view the medical profile of Dr. Levi here:

https://doctors.massgeneralbrigham.org/provider/michael-levy/1090088

The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode, Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Dr. Cristina Sadowsky from Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Sadowski shared her journey to become a physician and her focus on spinal cord injury rehabilitation [00:02:26]. She discussed the Kennedy Krieger Institute International Center for Spinal Cord Injury's comprehensive care approach, which includes long-term and specialized treatments for both pediatric and adult patients [00:07:00]. Dr. Sadowski concluded with insights on what keeps her motivated and her hopes for advancements in the treatment of rare neuroimmune disorders [00:13:51].

00:00 Introduction

00:52 Meet Dr. Christina Sadowski

01:35 Dr. Sadowski's Journey to Medicine

02:41 Focus on Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Care

05:49 Research and Innovations in Spinal Cord Injury

07:32 Overview of the Kennedy Krieger Institute

14:38 Personal Insights and Self-Care

17:09 Advice for Patients and Families

20:49 Hopes for the Future of Neuroimmune Disorders

22:49 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Born in Romania, Cristina Sadowsky, MD attended the Institute of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest. She completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Meridia Huron Hospital/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. From there, she began a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. Immediately following the completion of her second residency, she began a fellowship in spinal cord injury medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University School of Medicine. At the same time, she became a clinical instructor in the school’s Department of Neurology and later assumed an assistant professor in neurology in the Division of Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury Unit. In October 2004, she moved to Baltimore, joining the Kennedy Krieger Institute as Director of the Paralysis Restoration Clinic in the International Center for Spinal Cord Injury. In March 2005, she became an assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

She frequently serves as an invited clinical scientific peer reviewer for the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, Translational Research. She also serves as a section editor for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports. You can view the medical profile of Dr. Sadowsky here: https://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/faculty-staff/cristina-sadowsky

The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode, Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Dr. Jennifer Graves from UC San Diego Health. Dr. Graves shared her journey into neurology and neuroimmunology [00:02:14]. She discussed the multidisciplinary approach of her clinic at UC San Diego Health, emphasizing the importance of holistic care for patients with rare neuroimmune diseases [00:08:45]. Dr. Graves highlighted the significance of learning from rare disorders and her hope for future advancements in treatment and cures [00:16:32]. The conversation concluded with insights on maintaining well-being as a clinician and her faith in the collaborative efforts of the medical community [00:24:09]. You can view the medical profile of Dr. Graves here:

https://providers.ucsd.edu/details/32993/neurology

Jennifer Graves, MD, PhD, MAS is a Professor of Neurosciences and Vice Chair of Human Clinical Research at UCSD. She is Division Chief of Neuroimmunology and directs clinics at UCSD, the San Diego VA Hospital, and the Rady Children’s Hospital. She completed an MD and PhD in Biophysics at the University of Texas Southwestern. She trained in neurology at the University of Pennsylvania receiving the Arthur K. Asbury Award for Clinical Excellence. She completed two fellowships in Neuro-ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania and in Multiple Sclerosis and Clinical Research Methods at the University of California, San Francisco. Her current research focuses on the role of biological age on neuroinflammatory disease expression and the development of wearable sensors to instrument the physical exam for 21st century neurological "vital signs." Her past work has included the study of genetic, environmental, and sex-related factors in neuroimmunological diseases and the application of visual outcome measures in these diseases. She is currently the North American Editor for the Multiple Sclerosis Journal.

The "Community Meets Clinic" podcast series introduces clinicians and healthcare personnel specializing in rare neuroimmune disorders. In this episode, Krissy Dilger of SRNA was joined by Dr. Paula Barreras. Dr. Barreras discussed her journey into neuroimmunology, emphasizing the impact of patient interactions [00:01:31]. Her early research focused on misdiagnoses in disorders like transverse myelitis, later expanding to neurosarcoidosis, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy [00:02:42]. She shared how Cedars-Sinai's multidisciplinary clinic, enhanced by specialists, offers comprehensive care, aiming to address patients' various needs efficiently [00:05:41].

Dr. Paula Barreras is a board-certified neurologist with expertise in neuroimmunology. She is an assistant professor of neurology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Barreras specializes in immune mediated conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord, including neurosarcoidosis and spinal cord disorders such as neuromyelitis optica, MOG associated disease, transverse myelitis, and their mimics.

Dr. Barreras completed her medical school at the University of the Andes, followed by a postdoctoral research fellowship in neuroimmunology at Johns Hopkins University. She completed her neurology residency and clinical neuroimmunology fellowship also at Johns Hopkins before joining the team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Her research focuses on identifying predictors of final diagnosis after the initial diagnosis of myelopathy, as well as predictors of outcomes in myelitis and neurosarcoidosis. You can view the medical profile of Dr. Barreras here:

https://researchers.cedars-sinai.edu/Paula.Barreras/

For this episode of “Community Meets Clinic,” Rebecca Whitney of SRNA was joined by Dr. Kelsey Poisson and Dr. Camille Wilson of Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Kelsey Poisson shared what led her to pediatric neurology and neuroimmunology, as well as her work researching social determinants of health and pediatric neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Dr. Wilson discussed her work as a clinical psychologist with specialty training in neuropsychology. She spoke about her interest in long-term outcomes from a neurocognitive perspective of people who experience events with a neuroimmune basis. Next, they gave an overview of the multidisciplinary team at Nationwide Children's Hospital and which specialists a new patient might expect to see. Dr. Poisson and Dr. Wilson also described how they look after themselves and stay grounded. Finally, they provided details on Neuroimmune Family Education Day which will take place on September 9, 2023. You can view the medical profiles of our guests here:

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/kelsey-e-poisson

https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/camille-s-wilson